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Kosciusko County Department of Parks and Recreation Boad discussed an upcoming cleanup day for the Chinworth Bridge trailhead during a meeting on Thursday, June 11.
Ken Locke attended the meeting and said the next cleanup day is scheduled for 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 1. He told the board Warsaw Kiwanis is involved in the cleanup and that they were also looking at getting Scouts out there since it would be National Eagle Scout Day.
Locke said he was aware trash is typically an issue in the area and that the cleanup day would involve removing trash at the trailhead.
The cleanup day is open to anyone in the public.
"The citizen involvement with the trailhead cleanup has been instrumental," said Board President Troy Turley.
Board member Aggie Sweeney also noted the new extension for the Chinworth Bridge Trail has trash issues as well and asked if it could be incorporated into the cleanup day. Locke said it could be a possibility depending on manpower.
In other business, the board reviewed its potential budget for 2027, discussing items that they may want to incorporate into their numbers.
Board member Robert Bishop was unable to attend the meeting but asked the board members to consider the board becoming a member of the Indiana Parks & Recreation Association.
Board Vice President Matt Metzger also asked about the possibility of cleaning up and improving the canoe launch at Chinworth Bridge Trail.
Turley suggested purchasing two American flags and a solar light for the trail, stating the previous flag was torn and then replaced with a flag Turley already owned. Sweeney made a motion to go ahead and purchase flags and a solar light, rather than wait until 2027. The motion was approved.
Continuing discussions on Chinworth, Steve Foegley, with the Friends of the Trails, asked the board how maintenance for the trail's walking signals on Old 30 works.
"There's a few times when I've seen (the signals) flashing during heavy rain," said Foegley. "There's also been, at one time, I think it was set up to sense people approaching and automatically turn on instead of having to push the button."
Turley said he believed there was a product warranty with the system, but that he would need to check in with VS Engineering about that.
Prior to the meeting's start, board members also asked the community to keep Board Member Mike Cusick in their prayers. Cusick and his wife lost their home in an early morning house fire on Wednesday, June 10.
The board's next meeting is at 1 p.m. Thursday, July 9, in the Old Courtroom at the Kosciusko County Courthouse.
